Windsor’s Luke Cappatto rounds the back of the crease leaving London’s Ty Fletcher in the dust on 11 May 2017.Photo by Devan Mighton.

(WINDSOR, ON) – The Windsor Clippers lacrosse club is now undefeated in five games with a 23-3 win last Thursday over the London Blue Devils and a 13-7 road victory against the Welland Generals over the weekend.

On Saturday, in a game in which captain Andrew Garant surpassed Brett Hickey, currently of the Toronto Rock, for second place on the Clippers’ all-time scoring list, Windsor badly outshot the Generals but had to wait until the midway point of the game to outpace them.

Welland’s Talon Badawey scored first just a minute in. Midway through the opening frame, Dylan Riley blasted a pair to take an early lead. He was followed up by a snipe from Garant on the power play.

Before the period could end, Brendon Porga brought the Generals back within one with a goal on the advantage.

Craig Marentette and Blain Wallace ripped the mesh early in the middle act for the Clippers, but three goals in succession from Welland’s Badawey, Sam LeClair, and Bailey Fournier-Higgins drew the game even at five.

Before Welland’s fifth goal, Windsor switched from rookie Joel Evans to veteran goalie Jacob Corra in net. The Clippers then came alive.

Marentette broke the deadlock just after the halfway point of the game, followed by a power play snipe from Chase Kavanaugh. In the final stanza, Riley finished his hat-trick with a blast while playing 6-on-5.

The Generals answered back with a goal from Porga, and then Windsor buried the hammer.

Windsor’s Phil Ristoski bears down on the clear-cut breakaway on 11 May 2017.Photo by Devan Mighton.

Garant scored two to get his hatty, while Marentette, Wallace, and Nathan Salaris picked up singles, blowing the game wide open. A late goal from Welland’s Nick Villella closed the match.

“The first two periods wasn’t our game,” said Garant after the win. “Offensive wasn’t doing what we needed to do and we were taking really bad penalties.”

But, then they were able to turn it around.

“We had to settle down and talk about what we needed to do,” said the Clippers’ captain. “Good teams won’t let us back in the game. We’ve got to play a full 60 minutes, not just 20 or 40. But, in the third, we did bounce back and started to do what we needed to do and we got results that we wanted.”

On passing Hickey’s scoring mark.

“It’s honestly an honour,” said Garant. “Growing up, watching him, I was a huge fan. And, to pass his all-time, is a great honour. [I] have to give it to all the guys I’ve been playing with over the past years though. I don’t get any without them.”

Windsor’s Andrew Garant, pictured 11 May 2017, surpassed Brett Hickey on Saturday for second all-time in points for the Clippers.Photo by Devan Mighton.

Evans started in net for the Clippers, stopping 16 of 20 chances in just under 27 minutes of play. Corra picked up the statistical win, turning aside 12 of 15 during the remainder of the game.

Welland goalie Justin Rombough was peppered with 60 shots in the loss.

On Thursday, the Clippers hosted the London Blue Devils and left them in the dust. Garant led the way for Windsor, scoring two goals and accumulating 12 points. Kavanaugh also had a great stat night, netting three and collecting 11 points.

“It was a good night for all the boys, everyone was getting points out there,” said Salaris, after a five-point night. “We were trying to work on our game, especially for Welland on Saturday. They beat Hamilton who beat us at our home opener, so we were just trying to get into tip-top shape for Saturday night.”

Windsor’s Jesse MacDonald thunders down on the London net, avoiding two defenders on 11 May 2017.Photo by Devan Mighton.

“I think when we go into these, it’s more about just trying to execute what we do,” said Clippers coach Jerry Kavanaugh. “Their defence, they just kinda sit back in the box and let you shoot away. They don’t give up anything in the middle, which is fine, but they’ll give you those 15-20 foot shots all night long.”

The Clippers will be next in action tonight as they head to Point Edward for a date with the Pacers. The next home game will take place on Saturday when they play host to the Owen Sound North Stars at the Forest Glade Arena. Game time is 7:00pm.

About the Author

Devan is a former star with the Windsor Clippers and now an aspiring writer and photographer. His work has appeared here at The Square as well as in the Lakeshore News,, Tecumseh Shoreline, and Southshore News.
Devan lives with his family in Essex County.
Email Devan Mighton